Julius (Jules) Feraud (1850-1929) was a pioneering businessman. Originally from Salernes, France, he arrived in Ventura in 1875 after living in South America. Julius was married to Frances Yáñez Feraud in 1879. They had 6 children. Their children were Anselmo (1883–1917), Frank (1886–1962), Charles (1890-1953), Ernest (1892–1966), Antonio (1898–1960), and Nettie (1900–1970).

Soon after Julius arrived in Ventura, he entered into a partnership and operated a bakery on Main Street. After buying out his partner around 1890, he moved to the corner of Main and Ventura Avenue and opened his own bakery. The store became the Feraud General Merchandise Store and Feraud Bakery in what is now known as the 1903 Building. The brick building replaced the previous wood-frame structure in 1903 and was constructed during Ventura's second land boom (1887-1905) in the wake of the Southern Pacific Railroad line being extended to the seaside town. The building was designated Historic Landmark Number 35 by Ventura's City Council in 1978 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Julius expanded his business to include not only baked goods, but groceries and feed.

Over the years, Julius diversified his ventures by owning saloons, selling agricultural machinery, and acquiring land near Ojai for vineyards and orchards, which provided fresh produce and goods for his store. When Julius retired in the 1920s, his son Frank Feraud took over operating the store. The family operated their store out of this building until 1944.

Feraud became a respected figure in Ventura, serving on the city council, the Board of Health, and the Ventura Agricultural Association board. By 1890, he was also a founding partner of the Ventura Water Company and served as a director of Home Savings Bank for 25 years. At his death in 1929, he was one of Ventura County's wealthiest men.

Julius and Frances’s sons, Frank and Charles, went on to become business owners. In the 1920s, Frank partnered with Rosa Ramirez to sell her homemade enchilada sauce and opened the Ramirez and Feraud Chile Company, which evolved into Las Palmas, makers of canned Mexican foods and sauces still in operation today. Charles was a manager or owner of various restaurants, including the Owl Tavern, Buckhorn Billiard Parlor, Charlie's Chili Joint, Charlie's Steak House, and the Devil's Inn.